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New chapter! The happy one! (well, kind of, yeah).
Disclaimer: I do not own BBC's characters but I own my characters. And ACD owns his own character.
A/N: English is not my first language and this chapter was not beta'd.
THREE YEARS LATER
Spring was surprisingly warm that year. Trees were colouring the city with a bright green and flowers were particularly bright, too. Even the flowers at the flower shop were brighter than ever or maybe Molly was seeing happiness and brightness in everything.
She was happy, truly happy.
She had been married to Sherlock for almost four years and everything felt perfect. She was scared, actually, that Sherlock would grow bored of her and that he would eventually ask for the divorce to go back to his old life but he didn't and never gave sign of being tired of marriage. She soon convinced herself that what Sherlock was feeling was real, that he never pretended or deceived her and together they both found happiness in their not so ordinary life.
"Lost in your thoughts?" Mary asked, tapping her shoulder. Molly jumped up and then smiled.
"Sorry" she said. "What do you think of this flower? I like its colour, it's so...".
"...bright, I know" Mary said, completing her friend's sentence. "You've said that about all the flowers in the shop!".
"I'm sorry but I'm just really happy that my best friend is getting married and that I'm helping her organize her wedding" Molly said and Mary jumped, smiling.
"Oh God. I'm getting married" she exclaimed, almost squealing. Molly laughed and kept looking through the flowers when Mary suddenly stopped her.
"Oh my God. Do you realize what this means?" she asked, smiling again.
"What? What are you talking about?" Molly asked, quite confused.
"My wedding! I'm getting married to John. We'll be like sisters-in-law!" Mary said.
"Sherlock and John aren't brothers, you know".
"They are, kind of, they're best friends".
"Well, it doesn't matter, that's not how it works, we're not going to be sisters-in-law".
"You're no fun, Molly".
Both girls laughed so hard that the owner of the shop came out from his private room to see if everything was fine.
In the afternoon they went back to Baker Street which was currently full of boxes. Mary was permanently moving in with John and Molly couldn't be happier. Her best friend was going to live downstairs with one of her closest friend and she herself was married. Life was perfect.
"Do you need help with the boxes?" Molly asked, looking at their entrance. Mrs. Hudson kept complaining about the boxes blocking the entrance and Mary had so much to do, she was unpacking everything very slowly.
"Yes, thank you. The more I do now, the less I'll have to do when I'll get back from my honeymoon!" Mary said. They entered 221C and took a few boxes with them.
"Where are you going for your honeymoon?" Molly asked. They still haven't talked about it.
"Probably Greece, we're not sure" she answered, already daydreaming.
"What's the other option?" Molly asked.
"South Africa but I think Greece is going to be perfect for us" she answered and both girls giggled. Molly was unpacking a box full of books and photo albums when she suddenly noticed something.
"Is this what I think it is?" Molly asked and when Mary looked up, her hand automatically covered her mouth.
"I thought I'd lost it!" she said, taking the photo album from her friend's hands.
"Didn't you put it in here?" Molly asked, confused.
"No. John helped me packing everything, he probably packed this box with books and photo albums...oh, look!" Mary said, sitting on the couch. The album had pictures of their teenage years in high school, at birthdays and with friends. Molly approached her and for the next hour, they both got lost in their memories.
The wedding was set for the first days of June, Mary had a big case going on and she wanted to get rid of it before getting married and she wanted to organize her wedding calmly.
Molly was more than happy to help her friend but when her boss asked her if she could go to a conference in Scotland, she gladly accepted. This time, Sherlock was less understanding.
"Did you solve the case?" Molly asked when Sherlock came back home one night. She was looking through some books and noting something down.
"Of course, it was an easy one, it took us just three hours" Sherlock said. He went to the kitchen to prepare tea and as soon as he stepped into it, Toby jumped around his legs and meowed.
"Did you feed your cat?" Sherlock asked, looking down at the feline.
"No, could you do it? You know where his food is" Molly said without looking up. Sherlock frowned and snorted, taking the cat's food and feeding him. Toby was old but still full of energy and Sherlock was always relieved when Molly came back from the vet with Toby, telling him he was healthy. He kind of grew fond of Toby, he had to admit it, but what he cared the most about was that Molly loved her cat with all her heart and his death would cause her severe distress.
"What are you doing?" he asked, taking his tea cup with him. He looked at the books she was reading and saw they were medical books.
"Studying. My boss asked me to go to a conference, I'm trying to keep up with the other doctors that are going to be there" she replied and Sherlock frowned again.
"Which conference?" he asked.
"A medical conference" she said and then looked up. "In Glasgow".
"Why are you going?" he asked.
"My boss asked me. Come on, I'll be gone for a week, that's it" she said and Sherlock's eyes widened.
"A week? What are you going to do in Glasgow for one week?" he asked.
"I'll be having lunch with male colleagues and then after listening for hours to good-looking doctors I'll go and sleep in my hotel room" she said, getting up, wrapping her arms around his neck. He didn't react, his eyes were flat and she laughed. "Oh, come on, I'll be with Maggie the whole time, it's her first conference and she needs someone and my boss asked me and I said yes because I want to go and it's going to be for just a week".
"Mary is going to need you" he replied.
"I told her, she'll be fine. You know, she has other friends that can help her" she replied. She kissed him full on the mouth, amused by her husband's behaviour.
"What about me?" he asked, finally wrapping his arms around her waist, holding her close.
"You'll be fine. It's just a week, Sherlock. You've been away for almost two weeks, once" she said and he nodded. His job required many movements, he often had to leave and Molly was always understanding, she never once asked him to stay and he did. He wasn't going to do it again.
"You're right. I'll be fine" he said, kissing her again. This time, it was her turn to be surprised. She wasn't expecting this.
"Really? You're not going to beg me to stay?" she asked.
"No. I've done it before and it's not fair for you. You never ask me to stay" he replied and she hugged him tight.
"Thank you" she replied, smiling. He tightened their embrace and for a while, they stayed like this.
"I believe I learned how to understand you better" he said, breaking the silence. And then, Molly laughed again.
Two days after, Sherlock was putting the last bag in the cab Molly had called to take her to the airport. It was early in the morning and she was about to leave.
"Are you sure you've got everything?" Sherlock asked.
"Yes, I'm sure" she replied and smiled when Sherlock sighed. "Don't worry, one week is going to pass quickly".
"I'm not sure that's quite true" he replied and she laughed.
"Come on, I'll be late" she said. "Don't wear yourself out with cases and please, remember to feed Toby or at least remind Mrs. Hudson about it. Or John, or Mary. Just, don't let him starve" she begged and Sherlock smiled.
"Don't worry, Toby will be fine" he replied. She gave him a warm smile and then kissed him. He didn't let go of her too soon, he needed to feel her close before letting her go away.
"I love you" she said.
"I love you, too" he replied and she smiled, surprised. She was used to Sherlock answering "Me too" or "So do I", he didn't like saying the word "love" but when he did, she knew he meant it.
She got into the car and after waving goodbye, she left for Glasgow.
Sherlock stood there for quite a while, looking at the street, when John patted his shoulder.
"Did she leave?" he asked and Sherlock nodded. "Come on, mate. We've got a case to solve".
Sherlock smiled and told John he had to do something before leaving. Toby still hadn't eaten that day.
For two days Sherlock found himself pretty busy with a complicate case and John was of no help since his mind was too focused on his wedding. He soon left John at home, not even bothering to tell him where he was going and John didn't even notice that he was missing. He just kept daydreaming for a while and then called Sherlock, asking him where he was.
Sherlock threw himself on the bed and as soon as his head touched the pillow, his cell phone rang.
"Hello?" he answered, not even bothering to see who it was.
"Hi, Sherlock. How are you doing?" Molly asked. Sherlock snorted loudly and he could hear Molly laugh on the other end of the phone. Her laugh was heart-warming.
"Bad. I had to solve a big case without John's help, he's too focused on his wedding" he replied.
"Come on, that's normal" Molly answered back.
"I don't care if it's normal, he has a job and he has to do it correctly, without interruptions!" Sherlock exclaimed and Molly sighed.
"Alright then. Besides this, how is everything else going?" she asked.
"Perfectly well. Toby is well fed, Mrs. Hudson makes me dinner even if I keep telling her she doesn't have to. She says that she doesn't want you to come home to a skinny husband".
"She's quite right, I don't want to hug your bones when I come home".
"You won't. I'm eating, I can promise you. John witnessed it".
"That's good!".
Sherlock asked her about the conference and just when she was about to answer, Sherlock heard a cry coming from Molly's phone.
"What is that noise?" Sherlock asked. "Is someone there with you? What's wrong?".
"It's just Jeremy" Molly said. "One of my colleagues had to take her son along with her, her husband is away and she had no time to call a babysitter, so she brought him along".
"And why is he there with you?" Sherlock asked. He was curious but still confused.
"Well, I said that I could help her sometimes. She really wanted to have a night off and I told her I could watch Jeremy for her and here I am, babysitting her son" Molly answered and Sherlock could hear her cuddle the little boy in her arms, whispering him something.
"That was very kind of you" he said. He tried to hide his sadness in his voice, even to himself.
"Well, I like to watch over kids, I did my practise with Sam" she replied and Sherlock noticed that she wasn't even sad. She really had accepted the fact that she could not have children and she was fine with that. In all those years of marriage she never once mentioned the fact that she could not bear children and she never showed her frustration about it. It had become her normality and even if it was something that she longed for, she was fine without it.
"Oh, I know" he replied. "I'll leave you to your new job, then".
"We can still talk, if you want" she said.
"We can talk again tomorrow" he replied. "Good night, Molly".
"Good night, Sherlock" she said and the phone call ended. Sherlock threw his cell phone on the nightstand and rolled on his back. When something was broken or missed something, he always tried to fix it and he remembered what John said about fixing this situation. He shook his head and tried to empty his mind. At least for that night, he wanted to sleep without dreams.
He woke up along the sun but refused to get up until half past seven; that's when he heard footsteps from downstairs. He got up and made himself coffee, eating a piece of bread he had found in the fridge. What it was doing there, he didn't know. It tasted and smelled good and that was all that mattered to him.
He went downstairs and knocked on 221C's door, waiting for his friend to open the door. It was 8.07 a.m., he had given him more than half an hour to have breakfast and get ready.
"No" John said, opening the door. Sherlock frowned, confused.
"What?" he asked.
"I'm not going to come, today. I've told you yesterday" John replied.
"You didn't" Sherlock answered back.
"I did. I'm busy today, I have to go and choose the wedding cake with Mary" he replied.
"Can't you just pick one that looks good? Do you really have to taste them all?" Sherlock asked. He didn't do such things for his wedding.
"No, Sherlock. I've already told you. Today's my day off" John answered.
"Alright then" Sherlock replied and turned on his heels.
"Where are you going?" John asked.
"To Lestrade. I hope he has a fresh case for me" he replied and disappeared behind the main door. John laughed and closed the door, going back to his breakfast with his soon-to-be wife.
For a moment, Sherlock thought about taking a walk but then remembered that it would take him one hour to reach Scotland Yard and decided that a cab was the best solution.
He reached Scotland Yard in less that fifteen minutes and automatically walked towards Lestrade's office. Donovan passed him by without greeting him. Sherlock was used to it. They really didn't talk anymore, just when it was needed and both of them were very fine with that.
He didn't even bother to knock, he just opened the door.
"I hope you have something for me, Detective Inspector" Sherlock said. Lestrade looked up and sighed. He was used to his behaviour.
"I do but it's something we could easily take care of" Lestrade replied.
"It would take you less time with me by your side, solving it for you. You can take all the credit if you want to, you know I seek no attention" Sherlock answered.
"Yeah, I know" Lestrade said. "But I'm not going, Donovan's taking the case, you're going to work with her".
"I'd rather help you with the investigations" Sherlock answered. Even if they had no problems talking to each other, they still preferred to avoid any kind of contact or conversation.
"I have other things to do" Lestrade replied, quite annoyed.
"Can't you ask Donovan to take care of them and come with me?" Sherlock asked, almost begged. Almost.
"No. Listen, it's not going to be so bad" Lestrade said.
"For you, maybe. You're used to her presence, I'd rather not fight again with her" Sherlock asked. A knock on the door interrupted their conversation and the newbie came in with a folder in his hands.
"We have a new case" he said. Johnatan, 27 years old, hired three days ago. He really liked this job. "It's a double murder, it happened near the London Eye".
"I think that's fine for me" Sherlock said, taking the folder from Johnatan's hands. He blinked a few times before looking at Lestrade.
"Thanks, Johnatan. You can go" Lestrade said, nodding to him. He nodded back and left, a bit confused. "I have to see it first, Sherlock. Then you can have it".
"Mmh" the consulting detective said. "I think I might solve this in three hours, maybe four".
"Hand it back, I have to see it" Lestrade insisted.
"I can read it for you. First victim: Joanna Tryson, 23 years old, white female, the police found her body early this morning. Stabbed three times. Second victim: Igor Krotuin, 31 years old, white male, found his body near the first victim's body. It appears that..." Sherlock said but something suddenly stopped him. A cry. He looked around, confused. Was he imagining things? Why would he hear baby cries again? He was about to ask Lestrade if he could hear it too when he saw his friend lower down and whisper something. Sherlock approached the desk and froze.
Lestrade had a baby in his drawer.
"Are you sure you remember how to behave with children?" Sherlock asked. "Last time I checked, drawers weren't on the list for babies' cradles".
"Shut up, Sherlock" Lestrade answered. "They brought him in a few hours ago, I didn't know where to put him".
Sherlock blinked and looked at the baby. He couldn't stop crying and whatever Lestrade was trying to do, it wasn't working.
"What happened to him?" Sherlock asked.
"He's an orphan" Lestrade began. "Last night, his parents had a big fight. The dad was known for being drunk all the time and the mom never planned on becoming pregnant. She gave birth two weeks ago and last night they had one of those big fights that ended badly. He tried to attack her and she tried to defend herself with a knife. She stabbed him near the heart. He had a gun, she probably didn't notice it. He shot her. He died shortly after, she died a few minutes later. They found the baby on their bed. I'm going to take him to the orphanage later".
Sherlock looked at the baby and for some strange reason, the baby calmed down and stared him in the eyes. He was so small. He was glad babies could not remember their childhood, no child should remember their parents' death. It took him less than a minute to decide. He quickly handed the folder back to Lestrade.
"I'm sure you can manage this case, too" he said and then pointed to the baby. "I want him".
"The case's already filed, Sherlock. There's nothing more you can discover" Lestrade answered.
"I believe you misunderstood my words, Lestrade" Sherlock replied. "I don't want his case. I said, I want him".
So yeah, kind of a cliffhanger. Or maybe it's a proper cliffhanger. I really don't know, ha!
I just hope you enjoyed it and I can't wait to read your reactions :D
Thanks for reading and everything!